MTFCA Forum

Does anyone recognize these wheels? The man that has them thinks there Model T but I don’t see how that would work.

I'd guess an early motorcycle sidecar wheel ... but who, other than a dealer, would have 4 of those? Perhaps some kind of "cycle car" with a "motor wheel" drive unit?

Search: "Smith Cyclecar" "Briggs Stratton Cyclecar" "Smith Motor Wheel"

https://automuseumonline.com/wp-content ... 010012.jpg

There are pictures of several different ones on a google search (some pictures are of the same so look at wheel color & body) . They might be worth something https://www.google.com/search?q=smith+c ... 0&dpr=1.33

Very doubtful that they would have been for a model T. Too light, Might fit a front spindle? But doesn't look likely? No way for them to fit rear hubs.
Cyclecars had a short popularity in the US. Basically about 1912 to 1915. Their popularity in Britain and Europe lasted for decades! That in a large part due to the horsepower taxes in most of those countries. Their taxation of horsepower made cars that otherwise might have been affordable to middle class people too expensive to license! Therefore small cars with motorcycle engines became very affordably alternatives for much of their society. The cars were cheap, practical, and fairly reliable and everywhere. Of course cyclecar racing was also very popular in those countries!
Many cyclecars in addition to using motorcycle engines, also used motorcycle wheels.
Depending on how the bearings or mountings are set up? These wheels could very likely be from a cyclecar, or sidecar, or even a motorcycle.

From memory (getting more and more unreliable?), they don't look right for the two cylinder Metz automobiles, or as I recall the early Saxon automobiles, although they could be two pair of front wheels for a Saxon? I know they are not model 22 or later Metz wheels, because I know what their hubs look like. Another possibility for American cars could be a Waltham Orient from about 1906.

A lot of people don't realize that hundreds of very early automobile manufacturers were using wire wheels before 1905. As cars got bigger and heavier, the wire wheel technology became too weak too fast as cars got bigger and faster! Even many of the first Oldsmobiles and Locomobile steamers had wire wheels. So there are many possibilities!